Monday, June 4, 2012

Mulching, with Kantan leaves

Mulching is a technique to reduce water loss from the soil, reduce weeds and improve soil structure. Kantan leaves are very handy as mulch. There is a cluster of kantan at the corner of the house. After a while leaves will dry, so in between roselle, is a suitable place to put them.

two rows of roselle, kantan leaves in between

Kantan leaves, as mulch

Pokok Kantan / Torch Ginger ( Etlingera elatior) as a plant is very showy indeed, especially if grown far from anything else. New shoots keep coming out forming a neat round shape. It is grown primarily for bunga kantan, it's beautiful pink flower. Kakdah would add the pink bunga kantan for her special menu: asam pedas, masak lemak and not forgetting laksa. Sometimes she would slice the flower as addition for her kerabu. Thin sliced onions, young mango, ulam raja, , carrots, a bit of chili, and carrots. A bit of sugar, salt and lemon juice will complete the taste. Of course we can vary the contents to suit with what we have and the appetite of the day.

The plant which grow in a nice cluster cools the surroundings a little bit. I find dead leaves so convenient as ground cover, giving colour to the ground around roselle and keeping the soil from drying up.

Pokok kantan / torch ginger / Etlingera elatior

Kantan leaves as mulch may not look neat, but it helps on sustainability,

Yes that really is a good mulch, however the stems are so rigid i think. I use banana leaves instead around tomatoes. I still would love to taste that bunga kantan stew as i learned from Autumn Belle. However, if i have that plant i might not eat it as it is beautiful.